Clarity, depth, accuracy.

Power hungry (but at this price you have a weak amp?).
Divulges every weakeness in your system and media.

I've had my 2.5i's for two years now. I have absolutely no regrets other than the fact that I no longer like any of my "poorly-recorded" CDs (I save them for the car).

These speakers give an accurate picture of whatever you're listening to--the studio's acoustics, a vocalist's breath patterns, the spit in a sax. If you don't want accuracy, don't buy these.

If you want accuracy, buy the 2.5i's and you'll get a phenomenal soundstage, ruthless accuracy, and incredible tansparency. These speakers JUST AREN'T THERE. I love it.

I auditioned all the competition (and a lot that cost twice as much), and the 2.5i's beat them all. And just wait until you burn them in. NIRVANA.

Bass...Equally adept at HT and music.

A little too glossy black!

Great value for the price!In a smaller room there is no need for a subwoofer...especially if bi-amped. I would go 200 watts bass drivers and 80-100 mids/highs. Don't use cheap receiver amps or you'll get nothing special.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Studio 100s

Soundstage, neutral sound

Proper placement can take some work

I was taken back the first time I heard these
speakers by the neutral and incredibly accurate sound. The sound stage was large and made me feel as if I was part of the music. I use them both for music as well as HT and have never been disappointed in either use. They do require significant power to really sound their best and will show any weakness in your system. I have been using a Sunfire Grand for my power source which matchs well. I have loved NHT speakers for a long time and had been using 1.3a's previously for my main speakers until upgrading to the 2.5i and now use the 1.3a's for the rear surrounds. I would highly recommend that you listen to these before buying anything else in this price range.

Similar Products Used:

B&W, Boston Acoustics, PSB

I thought I had a good system until I heard the newer model NHT 2.9 I am using Rotel receiver and power amp, also Threshold s-300 power amp. Bi-amping the top end of the 2.9's from the Threshold and the lower end with the Rotel. I have used Straight Wire interconnects between all components but not from the amps to my speakers where I have 14 ga. copper. I use a Marantz DVD for my CD player.Over the years I have bought the best speakers I could afford but I was not prepared for the HUGE improvement when I added the NHT 2.9's. I'm sure there are many other systems which are better but at $2600/pair, I am VERY thrilled at the music coming from them. Don't know much technically but am always interested in comments.

I've had the 2.5's for about two weeks now and i must say that i am in total sonic bliss with them. My search for these gems took about 2 months of relentless speaker auditioning, with a budget of about $2500.00 to spend. Various brands i auditioned were from Martin Logan,Vienna Acoustics,PSB,Energy, and various others. I had finally narrowed it down to the PSB Silvers and the NHT's. I had the opportunity to spend about 2 hours with the PSB and the 2.5's in a private listening room and finally decided on the NHT's. I took them home and set them up with eager anticipation, and i must say that i wasnt dissapointed. In fact, right outta the box, they simply blew me away without any "burn-in" time!!!!! I've read that these speakers are very power hungy and such, but i find that even at very low listening levels they are very detailed and defined. The top end is not at all "bright" or "hot", which was one of my early concerns. I listen to a variety of music ranging from modern rock to classical, to r&b, and the 2.5's perform outstandingly on all of them. Although definetly not the most efficient speakers, they are rather easy to drive yet and still. I do recommend using a good power amp with them, as i use an ADCOM power amp mated to a Yamaha Rxv995 DD/DTS receiver. They are also outstanding for Home Theater applications and they provide plenty of bass output to satisfy most. The midrange performance is very clean and accurate, not too forward sounding, but not at all laid back either. One note however is that they did for the first time, make me hear the difference between a bad recording and a good one. Now they dont take anything away from bad recordings and they are still quite listenable, they just make you appreciate well recorded albums all the more. Theres not much more i can rave about the 2.5's except that i give them recommendation without hesitation, for anyone in search of Musical Truth......

great bass eye appeal

none to me

well what can i say these babies rock.i have used lots of speakers.and none have sounded like the nht's.is very tough for speakers to reproduce the bass in salsa merengue.the nht's do i't with no strains at all.for the price that i paid $650.00.in mint condition i cannot go wrong.if you like your music loud and clear these are i't.if you like other type of music.classical jazz not being biased.go for other brands.b&w etc. MY SYSTEM.....SONY 555es receiver.nht 2.5i audiocenter1 1.5i

Similar Products Used:

b&w cambridge soundworks kef infinity

clean bass & treble, power, good staging

cool sound, placement

so gooood..
just,
for good sound..
necessarily..
Use it in wide place..
but if.. bad enough.

Similar Products Used:

paradigm 70p, kef Q55.2.. etc

Nice finish

The sound!

Where do I start?

Shrill treble. Boomy, sloppy bass. Fiddled for hours with placement but no luck - the sound always had a hard glassiness couched in flabby bass.

Imaging is decent for HT applications. But the generally unpleasant voicing of this speaker makes long-term listening a chore.

You can do better at this price range.

Nice finish

The sound!

Where do I start?

Shrill treble. Boomy, sloppy bass. Fiddled for hours with placement but no luck - the sound always had a hard glassiness couched in flabby bass.

Imaging is decent for HT applications. But the generally unpleasant voicing of this speaker makes long-term listening a chore.

You can do better at this price range.

Tight bass, great imaging and reasonable price!

Somewhat unique/gloss finish shape may not be for everyone.

These replaced my Paradigm Studio 100's. No real comparison when it comes to tight, deep bass. these compete with anything on the market and are as deep and tighter than most subs. Well recorded music is spooky it's so real and junk comes out as junk. Unless big Proacs come along free, go for the 2.5i.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Studio 100